Anastasiades says TRNC not a sovereign state

Anastasiades says TRNC not a sovereign state

President Anastasiades said on Wednesday that the Greek Cypriot side has “completely achieved” its objectives through the joint statement, that was agreed on Tuesday with the Turkish Cypriots.

Responding to questions by the press, after presenting the provisions of the agreement that now paves the way for the re-launch of the Cyprus negotiations, “I had stated that in order to engage in a dialogue, the basic principles that constitute the components of every internationally recognised state, needed to be clarified,” Anastasiades said, in reference to the agreement to secure a future unified state with a single sovereignty, international personality and citizenship.

He dismissed in this regard various interpretations of the agreement, saying “they always existed and will continue to exist”. He noted that the points in the agreed text of the joint statement are clear, thus preventing either side altering them in any way.

The Greek Cypriot President also said that he would not comment on statements by Turkish Cypriot President Dervish Eroglu, noting that rather, he is focused on forthcoming discussions at the negotiation table.

He repeated that the future state will be a continuation of the existing Republic of Cyprus, with the common declaration acknowledging that the United Cyprus will be a UN and EU member.

Anastasiades added that the text notes that negotiations will be held between the two communities of Cyprus and not between two existing sovereign states, as President Eroglu maintains.